Australia/Aleteia (aleteia.org/ar) – The Australian government discovered on Monday that its citizens continue to join ISIS to fight in Iraq and Syria. While pointing out that there are now an estimated 70 Australians fighting for ISIS, the government confirmed that they are close to enacting new laws to stem the flow of foreign fighters.
In a statement reported by Almada Press, the Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop said that “there are approximately 70 Australians currently located in Iraq and Syria who are fighting alongside terrorist groups like ISIS. Among them are those who are involved with recruiting and financing these groups.” She further noted that “there are approximately 185 Australians actively involved with extremists in the Middle East.”
Bishop added, “The laws that the government will enact to deal with the foreign militants will grant it flexibility in taking steps that are in agreement with changing circumstances to stem the flow of those militants.”
It is expected that the new laws for dealing with the Australian militants will give the Australian Foreign Minister the power to immediately revoke the passport of anyone if security agencies believe that they are intending to travel in order to fight with the extremists.
This article originally appeared in Aleteia’s Arabic edition. Translated byDonald Puhlman.
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